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Marine Life & Conservation

Marine Conservation Society to take legal action over ocean sewage spills

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The Marine Conservation Society is announcing joining as co-claimant in a legal case against the UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to protect English seas from sewage dumping.  

The legal case seeks to compel the Government to rewrite its Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan 2022, impose tighter deadlines on water companies and redevelop the Plan to effectively apply to coastal waters which are, currently, almost entirely excluded.  

Sandy Luk, Marine Conservation Society CEOUntreated sewage is being pumped into our seas for hundreds of thousands of hours each year; putting people, planet and wildlife at risk. 

We’ve tried tirelessly to influence the UK Government on what needs to be done, but their Plan to address this deluge of pollution entering our seas is still unacceptable. We owe it to our members, supporters and coastal communities to act, which is why we’ve joined as co-claimants on this case. We’re out of options. Our seas deserve better.”  

Launched and funded by the Good Law Project, the Marine Conservation Society will stand as co-claimants on the case with Richard Haward’s Oysters, and surfer and activist, Hugo Tagholm. 

Before reaching this point, the charity responded to a government consultation in March 2022 and met with DEFRA to express concern. In August 2022, the charity wrote an open letter to DEFRA outlining the ways in which the proposed Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan fails to protect the environment and public health from dumping raw sewage into the sea. However, the Plan hasn’t been amended and still fails to adequately address water companies’ excessive reliance on storm overflows and the harm their heavy use causes to our ocean. 

The plan virtually excludes most coastal waters (except for bathing waters) either directly or indirectly, with some types of Marine Protected Areas and shellfish waters totally excluded. 600 storm overflows are not covered at all by the Plan and will continue to – completely legally – be able to dump uncontrolled amounts of sewage directly into English seas and beaches. What’s more, the Plan lacks all urgency – with long-term targets set for 2050, and the earliest, most urgent targets not to be met until 2035.  

Meanwhile, Marine Conservation Society analysis finds that raw sewage is pouring into the ocean at an alarming rate. In total, there are at least 1,651 storm overflows within 1km of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in England. These overflows spilt untreated sewage 41,068 times in 2021. Of these, almost half the overflows spilt more than 10 times in 2021, with an average of 48 spills for each of those overflows. Overall, in 2021, sewage poured into Marine Protected Areas for a total of 263,654 hours. 

According to DEFRA’s own latest assessments, only 19% of estuaries and and 45% of coastal waters are at ‘good ecological status’, with none meeting ‘good chemical status’, and three quarters (75%) of shellfish waters failing to meet water quality standards. 

Rachel Wyatt, Policy & Advocacy Manager for Clean Seas at the Marine Conservation SocietyUntreated sewage contains a cocktail of bacteria, viruses, harmful chemicals, and microplastics. It’s nearly impossible to remove microplastics and ‘forever chemicals’ once in the environment. Due to their persistence, with every discharge, these pollutants will continue to increase, meaning eventually they will pass – or may have already passed – a threshold of harm.”  

In addition, it’s not just invisible toxins that are causing problems. In September this year at the charity’s annual Great British Beach Clean, sewage related pollution, such as wet wipes and sanitary products, were found on 73% of the beaches surveyed across England.  

A new DEFRA report, Ocean Literacy in England and Wales, shows that 85% of people say marine protection is personally important to them. Yet this is being ignored. 

Emma Dearnaley, Legal Director at the Good Law Project, said: “The Marine Conservation Society is at the forefront of tackling the ocean emergency and standing up for coastal communities impacted by climate change and pollution. We are delighted to have them on board as a co-claimant. 

“Good Law Project will work closely with the claimants, including the Marine Conservation Society, to put forward the case for more ambitious and urgent measures to reduce sewage discharges by water companies. These sewage spills are threatening human health, biodiverse marine life and the fishing industry. We believe that taking legal action now is vital to help safeguard our coastal waters for generations to come”. 

If the case is won, the Marine Conservation Society hopes to see the UK Government amend its Plan so that it meets the DEFRA Secretary of State’s legal obligations to protect the ocean and its inhabitants from raw sewage spills.   

For more visit the Marine Conservation Society website.

Header image credit: Natasha Ewins

Marine Life & Conservation

Double Bubble for the Shark Trust

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This week only – your donation to the Shark Trust will be doubled – at no extra cost to you!

The Shark Trust are raising vital funds for their Community Engagement Programme: empowering people to learn about sharks and rays, assisting the scientific community take action for elasmobranchs, and bring communities together to become ambassadors for change.

Every £1 you give = £2 for shark conservation. A donation of £10 becomes £20, £50 becomes £100! Help us reach our target of £10,000, if successful, this will be doubled to £20,000 by the Big Give.

Every donation makes DOUBLE the impact!

Monty Halls is backing this week of fundraising “Cousteau called sharks the “splendid savage of the sea”, and even through the more benign lens of modern shark interactions it remains a good description. The reefs I dived thirty years ago teemed with sharks, the perfect result of 450 million years of evolution. Today those same reefs are silent, the blue water empty of those elegant shadows. But hope remains that if one generation has created such devastation, so the next can reverse the damage that has been done. The Shark Trust are at the forefront of that fight.

Donate Here

To find out more about the work of the Shark Trust visit their website here.

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The Sardine Run Controversy: Are We Undervaluing One of Nature’s Greatest Shows?

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sardine run

Every year, South Africa’s Sardine Run draws thousands of visitors, eager to witness one of the most spectacular marine wildlife events on the planet. Shoals of sardines stretch for miles, attracting a feeding frenzy of predators, including dolphins, seabirds, whales, and, of course, sharks. But while this natural wonder is a goldmine for ecotourism, some argue that it disrupts marine ecosystems or that shark tourism is an unnecessary risk.

The reality?

The Sardine Run doesn’t just showcase nature’s brilliance, it actively protects it.

A Predator Worth More Alive Than Dead

Sharks are the apex predators of the Sardine Run, and their presence is a major draw for divers, filmmakers, and tourists. But beyond the thrill, there’s a critical financial argument to be made: sharks are far more valuable alive than dead. A report by Oceana found that shark ecotourism generates hundreds of millions of dollars globally, while a single dead shark, caught for its fins or meat, is worth mere pennies in comparison.

According to Pew Trusts, reef sharks in Palau contribute an estimated $1.9 million each over their lifetimes through tourism, whereas a single dead shark fetches only $108 at market. The same economic principle applies to South Africa’s waters, where a live shark supports local businesses, jobs, and conservation efforts through sustainable tourism. The question then becomes: why are some still advocating for the mass culling of these creatures when they’re worth exponentially more alive?

Sharks Are Not the Enemy

Despite their economic value, sharks face persistent threats in South Africa. Misguided fears about shark attacks fuel calls for lethal control measures like drumlines and shark nets; outdated and ecologically damaging practices that indiscriminately kill marine life, including endangered species.

Ironically, these same sharks drive South Africa’s multimillion-dollar dive tourism industry, proving that their survival is inextricably linked to the economy.

By protecting the predators of the Sardine Run, South Africa preserves an ecological spectacle while securing jobs in tourism, hospitality, and marine conservation. It’s ensuring that communities along the coast continue to benefit from this natural event for generations to come.

From Passive Observers to Active Conservationists

“In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught.”

Baba Dioum’s quote perfectly encapsulates why the Sardine Run and shark conservation efforts are so vital.

“We will conserve only what we love.” Experiencing the Sardine Run first and seeing sharks glide effortlessly through bait balls and feeling the sheer energy of the ocean, creates an emotional connection that turns spectators into advocates. It’s hard not to love something so breathtakingly wild.

“We will love only what we understand.” Sharks have long been vilified, but when people see them in their natural role as apex predators, shaping marine ecosystems, their fear turns into fascination. The more we understand sharks, the more we appreciate their importance in maintaining ocean health.

“We will understand only what we are taught.” Ecotourism, like responsible Sardine Run expeditions, plays a huge role in education. Through firsthand encounters, expert guides, and conservation messaging, people learn that sharks are worth far more alive than dead. This, in turn, supports coastal economies, balancing marine ecosystems, and ensuring the future of this natural phenomenon.

Critics argue that the Sardine Run disrupts natural feeding patterns or stresses marine life due to increased human activity. However, scientific studies suggest that well-managed ecotourism can actually enhance conservation efforts. The presence of responsible tour operators discourages illegal fishing, promotes marine research, and generates funds for conservation initiatives.

Furthermore, ecotourism advocates education and awareness. Anyone who’s ever been lucky enough to experience the sardine run will tell you how incredible it is to witness the greatest shoal on Earth and often leave as passionate champions for ocean conservation. In an age where marine species are vanishing at alarming rates, the Sardine Run may be one of the few large-scale events that turn passive observers into active conservationists.

The Sardine Run is an opportunity to teach, inspire, and create lifelong ocean ambassadors. If we want to protect sharks and the marine environments they support, we need more people to experience, understand, and ultimately, fight for them.

sardine run

My Sardine Run Experience (Still Seems Surreal!)

Experiencing the Sardine Run firsthand in Cintsa on South Africa’s Wild Coast was one of the most incredible events of my life. I swam alongside foraging dusky sharks in focused grace, watched hundreds of common dolphins expertly and intelligently herd sardines into bait balls, observed the honed precision of countless Cape gannets diving, and saw gentle but giant Bryde’s whales effortlessly slicing through the schools.

My friends who stayed longer even had the amazing opportunity to interact with humpback whales. Cintsa is a hidden gem for the Sardine Run, offering an untouched wilderness without the intense competition of other operators. The encounters I had weren’t just breathtaking, they reinforced why this natural event is invaluable for conservation and ecotourism.

I will be forever grateful to Go Dive Mossel Bay for their incredible passion for the ocean and the unforgettable experiences they’ve given me. Their expertise and dedication to marine conservation made my Sardine Run adventure in Cintsa extraordinary. Cintsa is truly a hidden gem for the Sardine Run, offering an intimate, untouched wilderness where the ocean comes alive without the crowds.

The Bottom Line: The Sardine Run is Vital for Conservation in South Africa

The real controversy isn’t whether the Sardine Run is good or bad for conservation. It’s why we aren’t doing more to protect the species that make it so extraordinary.

Instead of fearing sharks or debating their presence, we should be celebrating them as a cornerstone of South Africa’s ecotourism economy.

Every shark in the Sardine Run represents a long-term financial investment, one that benefits local communities far more than a fleeting profit from finning or culling.

So, the next time someone asks whether the Sardine Run is a threat, remind them of this: a dead shark is worth a few dollars, but a live shark fuels an entire industry. South Africa’s future… both ecological and economic… depends on making the right choice.

godive.co.za/keep-fin-alive

Photos: Frogfish Photography

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